REVIEW: SRT’s Shakespeare in the Park returns with A Midsummer Night’s Dream after 5 years hiatus

CONTENT: Yeo Terence
IMAGES: Singapore Repertory Theatre

In celebration of Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT)’s 30th anniversary this year, the Shakespeare in the Park finally returns with the bard’s popular comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream – a romantic comedy filled with mischief and magic. The love of arts, literature and theatre has driven SRT in producing the critically acclaimed Shakespeare in the Park year after year.

Audiences can once again look forward to rolling out their picnic blankets and sumptuous spreads under the night sky in Fort Canning Park to enjoy this romantic comedy filled with mischief and magic.

Award-winning director Guy Unsworth who says, “After getting past the worst of COVID-19, I feel society is in a very different place and this calls for something different on stage. I feel a stronger need to celebrate the true themes of the play: love, togetherness, and fun. We need this more than before, we appreciate it more than before, to create something which would celebrate the very thing it is: A piece of live entertainment which brings people together and celebrates love and life.”

Starring Julie Wee, Ghafir Akbar, Daniel Jenkins and Krish Natarajan, A Midsummer Night’s Dream magnificent stage is set in a fictional industrial city of Athenia with the backdrop of a refinery plant with heavy machinery.

The plot is set revolving around the wedding of King Theseus of Athenia (Ghafir Akbar) and the Amazonian queen, Hippolyta (Julie Wee). With subplots where Oberon (Ghafir Akbar) and Titania (Julie Wee), the king and queen of fairies are at war, four young Athenian lovers, Hermia (Natalie Yeap), Lysander (Timothy Wan), Helena (Vanessa Kee), and Demetrius (Nicholas Chan) have eloped to the forest to escape Theseus authoritarian ruling. In another part of Athenia, a group of Mechanical tradesmen who are rehearsing a play.

“The course of true love never did run smooth.” – Lysander

But it is Midsummer Night and the city of Athenia transforms into an enchanted dreamworld of moonlit water and fairyland mayhem. Puck, as chief mischief-maker, is pulling pranks to ensure that the course of true love is anything but smooth. Puck’s magic spells cause the lovers to change their allegiance, and one of the tradesmen, Nick Bottom, undergoes a shocking transformation.

Can the magic of fairyland be reversed before sunrise or will Athenia be turned upside down forever? You’ve got to watch it to find out more. Come catch the show with a group of friends and you can get one ticket free when you purchase 5 to 7 tickets in a single transaction, applicable only for picnic price category. PAssion Card Members enjoy a 10% discount, available for pavilion and picnic price category only.

Gaurav Kripalani, Artistic Director of SRT, says, “How often can you come in shorts and T-shirts, lay back on the grass and enjoy one of the greatest pieces of literature brought to life? This is a truly unique opportunity not to be missed.”
“We stay true to the text, but set the production in a contempory setting in order to make the show relatable to audiences today. The fact that a play can still remain relevant 450 years later is a testament to the genius of Shakespeare.”

Hear what others have to say about the show:

Shakespeare in the Park – A Midsummer Night’s Dream is staged from now till 28 May (Tuesdays to Sundays only) at Fort Canning Park. The gates will open from 6pm for patrons to picnic and performance starts from 7.30pm. Tickets from $50 (group concessions available) to S$138 are available from SISTIC, SISTIC outlets, SISTIC booking hotline (65) 6348 5555 and SRT website.